Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
From It Takes Two to Something New
Already 4 years ago the award-winning hit It Takes Two appeared here. This time around, the creators at Hazelight Studios have moved away from the more serious themes of their previous games, A Way Out and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and taken a more light-hearted direction. The game from the relatively small studio won one award after another and eventually took home the top prize of Game of the Year at The Game Awards. Since then, it has sold over 23 million copies, and the developers have regularly reported since then that they have once again surpassed the previous milestone. No wonder—truly narrative and playable co-op games are rare, so each one feels like a godsend. So when studio boss Josef Fares appeared at The Game Awards last year, I knew we couldn’t miss this one.
A Story Written by Strangers
Split Fiction comes with a slightly different concept. While previous titles have focused on pre-existing relationships—whether between two escaped prisoners or a married couple on the verge of divorce—this time around, players find themselves in the shoes of two girls, Zoe and Mio, who don’t know each other but are coincidentally drawn into an adventure together. What’s more, the two women don’t exactly get along, either as people or as authors. So they will have to overcome their differences and work together to get out of the simulation.
Virtual Reality Gone Off the Rails
The story begins at a casting call for writers, where Zoe and Mio get the chance to see their stories come to life thanks to Rader Publishing’s advanced virtual reality technology. But when Mio uncovers the company’s shady practices and unexpectedly finds herself inside Zoe’s simulation, their journey together begins across a world made up of their own stories. The extrovert Zoe writes relatively quiet, but bland fantasy; the introvert Mio, on the other hand, prefers suspenseful, though also bland, science fiction. Players thus get into a crazy mix of cyberpunk chases, fairy tale adventures, and bizarre minigames. Unsurprisingly, Split Fiction is brimming with tons of original ideas. Almost every level shows that Hazelight Studios has several incredibly creative people working on the game, which constantly surprises with new mechanics and challenges.
Creative Gameplay That Keeps on Giving
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the narrative itself. Even with It Takes Two, there was plenty to fault with the story and dialogue, but the main duo had great chemistry, and the central theme was interesting to say the least. Split Fiction lacks both. Zoe and Mio are likable, but their development is incredibly predictable, and the dialogue is full of clichés. The often infantile, annoying humour doesn’t help either. I don’t want to play the tough guy who doesn’t laugh at childish jokes; on the contrary, I’m a big fan of animation, but it simply doesn’t work here. I don’t even know who the humor is aimed at. It contains typically Fares-esque bad language, while the story itself feels like it’s aimed more at children.
Where the Narrative Fails the Journey
What Split Fiction loses in story, it thankfully makes up for fully in the gameplay itself. Studio Hazelight has a wealth of experience in creating unique co-op experiences, and it shows here. It’s not just that it’s fun to do all the crazy stuff with two people, but the way the game handles it. In many cases, each player has a different role and must align themselves with the other, which isn’t always an easy task. In each level, you need to join forces and find a common solution. A big part of the game is exploring new possibilities, so I certainly won’t give them away here. However, Split Fiction is a game full of variety, so you don’t have to worry about mechanics being repetitive. Something new awaits you in each level—sometimes you’ll engage the more action-oriented part of your brain, while other times you’ll have to think carefully about the puzzles. Whether you prefer dragons or giant robots trying to destroy you, the game offers something for everyone. Without giving away the details, you can look forward to a truly original experience, both visually and in terms of gameplay.
Co-op Chaos with a Purpose
In addition to the main story, you have the option to bounce around to side narratives that are scattered throughout the levels. Finding them is fairly straightforward, and they’re usually located near the main route or pointed out by one of the characters. And if you still miss them, you can return to them at any time via the chapter selection. It would be a shame to miss them, as each one brings original mechanics and is almost always a pleasant diversion. Most of them are several-minute sequences—for example, one level pits Zoe and Mia against each other in a snowboard race, and the game offers a solid trick and scoring system similar to the legendary SSX series. Some parts are more logical, others more story-driven, but all have a point and added value. Personally, I think they also contain one of the funniest moments of the entire game. When you check it out, you’ll definitely remember my review.
Side Stories That Shine Bright
The experience will also be heavily influenced by who you go to Split Fiction with. With It Takes Two, it was often the case that couples would get the game but eventually find that one of them wasn’t a very experienced player, leading them to give up playing. I fear something similar may be happening here. While the levels are fun and well-designed, the more action-packed passages can frustrate even more experienced players. Fortunately, the game offers options to adjust the difficulty directly in the settings and even allows you to skip problematic passages should they prove too difficult. Overall, though, the passage is smooth and doesn’t present an extremely difficult challenge for the average player. Some parts can be confusing, but never frustrating.
Difficulty Spikes and Friendly Tweaks
Technically, the game can hardly be faulted. I reviewed it on a base model PlayStation 5, and while I was initially surprised by the lack of an option to set a performance mode, I was pleasantly surprised in the end. The game runs very smoothly and without any issues. Furthermore, as with the previous game, the icing on the cake is that the owner can invite a friend to play Split Fiction for free thanks to the Friend’s Pass. So you only need to own one copy. Crossplay is also now available, so players on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC can play together.
Final Thoughts on Hazelight’s Latest Co-op Hit
Split Fiction is further proof that Hazelight Studios can create original co-op games that surprise with great mechanics and unexpected moments. The gameplay is dynamic, constantly bringing new challenges, and the variety of individual worlds is truly impressive. Although the gameplay mechanics work great, the story and humour sometimes fall short and are not always ideal. But if you’re looking for a creative co-op experience, you definitely can’t go wrong with this game.
About Split Fiction Cooperative Game
Title: Split Fiction
Type of Game: Cooperative Action-Adventure, Narrative Puzzle Platformer
Developer: Hazelight Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: March 6, 2025
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Where to Purchase
- Steam (PC): Available on the Steam Store
- Epic Games Store (PC): Purchase from the Epic Games Store
- PlayStation 5: Buy on the PlayStation Store
- Xbox Series X/S: Available on the Microsoft Store
